News   /   More

3 dead, 20 injured as Melbourne driver rams into busy shopping mall

Police cordon off Bourke Street after a car plowed into pedestrians in the center of Melbourne on January 20, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

A driver has plowed his vehicle into pedestrians at a busy shopping center in MelbourneAustralia, leaving multiple casualties.

Three people were killed, including a child, and 20 others injured after the car “deliberately” drove into pedestrians in Bourke Street mall in Melbourne, police said on Friday.

“It is believed police were in pursuit of a vehicle in the CBD when the vehicle deliberately struck a number of pedestrians in the vicinity of Bourke and Queens Streets at approximately 1:30 pm (13:30 GMT)," Victoria police said in a statement.

Australian emergency servicemen and police are seen on Bourke Street after a car rammed into pedestrians in the center of Melbourne on January 20, 2017. (Via AFP)

The statement added the driver had received bullet wounds and was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. 

The motive behind the ramming is still unclear and police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. However, the possibility of a terror attack has been ruled out by police.

Police said the 26-year-old suspect had a history of family violence, adding that the mall incident took place following a stabbing and hostage-taking incident elsewhere in Windsor.

Prior to the incident, the driver had allegedly taken a woman hostage in his car.

The woman, however, had managed to escape and police had been in pursuit of the alleged felon.
      

 


Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Press TV News Roku